Questions tagged [talmud-gemara]
The Talmud is a central text of Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, metaphorical stories customs, and history.
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Apparent contradiction if Elul was made full when necessary
The Gemara Rosh Hashanah 19b says:
והאמר רבי חיננא בר כהנא א"ר מימות עזרא ואילך לא מצינו אלול מעובר
לא מצינו דלא איצטריך הא איצטריך מעברינן ליה
Didn’t Rabbi Chinana bar Kahana say that Rav said: ...
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Piskei Hilchos Pesach
In Maseches Pesachim 57b, the last page of of the fourth chapter ends abruptly halfway through the page, followed by "הדרן עלך מקום שנהגו וסליקא לה פסח ראשון." The rest of the page is filled ...
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Sotah 34a se’a as unit of weight?
In Sotah 34a, the weight of the stones at the Jordan from Joshua 4:3 is given as “about forty se’a.” Some (for instance Steinsaltz) use this in the discussion of the cluster of grapes brought back by ...
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Source for the menorah represents the wisdoms of the world?
This blog post claims that the Meiri along with other Rishonim taught that the Menorah ,mentioned in Behalotecha represents the 7 wisdoms of the world.
Quoted here:
The Meiri and other Rishonim say ...
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Why do many masechtot conclude with a portion of Aggadata?
From what I've seen, many Masechtot in Shas seem to conclude with an aggadata portion that can be found towards the end of that particular Masechta.
Is there a documented or stated reason as to why ...
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When answering a greeting one should top it
On a daf yomi shiur I heard that when someone is being greeted/blessed he should reply with a greater blessing.
When I heard that I thought that this was the reason why people reply shabbat shalom ...
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Does the Talmud discuss "Solomon's Pools"
I recall visiting Solomon's Pools, located a bit south of Bethlehem, years ago, before it became "Area A". Wikipedia says:
The water system based on Solomon's Pools has provided water to
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Logic behind אם אינו ענין
Every now and again Chazal use a method of exegesis of the form
אם אינו ענין ל___ תנהו לענין ___
which means that if a word or phrase is extra, due to the halacha it apparently teaches being ...
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Did Amoraim in Bavel study or know of the Talmud Yerushalmi?
The Talmud Yerushalmi was completed while the Amoraim in Bavel were still debating and discussing halachos that would be recorded later on the Talmud Bavli. I'd like to know if we can know or assume ...
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Why are non-Jews referred to as עובדי כוכבים in the גמרא?
When the גמרא refers to עובדי כוכבים, it is usually (eg. Artscroll) translated as "non-Jews". Is this supposed to exclude monotheistic non-idolatrous non-Jews or is it inaccurate translation?
If ...
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Coin System from the Talmud -- the Selah, Darkon and Dinar
in Rambam Hilchos Shekalim Perek 1 Halachos 2-4, the basic coinage system is like this:
1 Isar = 8 Perutahs. = 4 barley kernels
1 Pundyon = 2 Isarin.
1 Me'ah/Gayrah = 2 Pundyonin. = 16 barley kernels
...
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What is the source for "asi aseh v'dachi lo sa'aseh"?
Throughout Shas we have a concept of "asi aseh v'dachi lo sa'aseh," that a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment (ex. Beitzah 8a, Yevamos 84a, etc.). What is the source for this ...
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Maseches Beitzah 7a and science
In Maseches Beitzah 7a the gemara says that any animal that mates by day will give birth at day-this is talking about a chicken ,and any animal that mates by night gives birth at night, this is ...
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Talmud source that the righteous can create worlds with their words
Looking for a source in the talmud which says that the righteous can create worlds with their words - I saw this and I can't remember in which tractate/where exactly, google isn't helping.
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Comparison of editions of Shas menukad
As far as I'm aware, there are at least three editions of the Talmud which are currently available with nikkud in the daf itself (the Steinsaltz/Koren, the Tuvia's Judaica, and the Oz Vehadar). In my ...
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Is a bat kohen who has relations with a pasul (not marries) then forbidden from t'rumah?
Is a bat kohen who has relations with a pasul (not marries) then forbidden from t'rumah? I ask this because I'm having trouble understanding Noam Yerushalmi's explanation of Yerushalmi Yevamot 8:6 in ...
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Sefardim starting to study the Talmud with Rashi and Tosfot
When did the sefardim start to study the Talmud with Rashi and Tosfot? And which books did they use before knowing about Rashi and Tosfot?
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Source for an Aggadah about Moshe feeding a bird
I was reading a book called "Shylock" by Hermann Sinsheimer and he made reference to a story from "the Jewish Talmud." (can be seen here) I don't know to what he is referring. I ...
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Rambam and the 10 types of Malachim
In Yesodei HaTorah 2:7, The Rambam lists the 10 types of malachim (angels) in order of power.
Many people have told me that this halacha proves that the Rambam knew Kabalah, since this knowledge is ...
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Why were the Ma'amad afraid of the Notzrim?
There is an interesting brief discussion at Taanis 27b which says that the Ma'amad would fast four days a week -- but never on Sunday. According to Rabbi Yochanan it is because they were afraid of ...
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How do we evaluate a b'raisa that quotes Rebbe against an anonymous Mishna?
At Rosh Hashanah 19b, the Gemara raises a b'raisa quoting Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (aka "Rebbe") -- the editor of the Mishna -- to counter the opinion of the anonymous Tanna quoted in the previous Mishna ...
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Siyum Mishnayos on Erev Pesach
Today I learned of the minhag to make a siyum bechorim only on gemara. I understand the logic, but is there a source for it? This came up because I'm scheduled to make a siyum on the Mishna (first ...
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Inconsistent scheduling for the musaf offering
In P'sachim (58a), Abaye frames a disagreement between Rabbi Yishma'el and Rabbi Akiva regarding the ordering of the korban musaf and the bazichin (bowls of frankincense burned when the old showbread ...
- 16.9k
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A Mashal of HaShem as a crazy king and Moshe as His weak-kneed friend?
The Gemara (Ber. 32a) quotes R' El'azar that when HaShem wanted to destroy Bnei Yisrael and Moshe intervened, it is comparable to a king who beat his son terribly, and the king's friend was at his ...
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What are the "maasim tovim"?
Talmud, mishna, and other sources reference "maasim tovim" (good deeds) in many places (Avos 4:17 is one example). Do any sources define what this term actually includes?
Some of the possible options ...
user17319
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How is the male skeleton different from female?
This question is a follow-up to "Different-counts-of-the-248-organs-".
As we see from the Mishnah in Ohalot 1,8, only the bones are counted as organs, namely a bone that has sinew and some ...
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Berur halachah - what is this called in English?
I'm translating an article concerning the need for a "berur halachah" in order to determine the legal status of individuals with mental retardation.
How would say "berur halachah" in English? "...
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Why does the Steinstalz Talmud interpret this one sentence in contradiction to Rashi?
A sentence towards the bottom of Sanhedrin page 5b speaks of kneading dough in a state of impurity.
דתניא פעם אחת הלך רבי למקום אחד וראה בני אדם שמגבלין עיסותיהם בטומאה ...
In the English Koren ...
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Why doesn't the Talmud provide a list of the 613 commandments?
The Talmud says that there are 613 commandments in the Torah:
Rabbi Simlai, when preaching, said: 613 precepts were communicated to Moses: 365 negative precepts, corresponding to the number of ...
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Different publishers of kovetz mefarshim
I'm wondering what the different major publishers of kovetz mefarshim on Gemara are, and if there are any pros/cons to the different editions. In general, and if known regarding Kiddushin specifically....
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Halacha on being attentive to someone when they're speaking to you
BH
Does Halacha or any teaching in the Torah address the following scenarios:
A) When someone is talking to you, must you be attentive to show them respect that you're listening to what they're saying?...
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What is the source of not to speak dvarim betelim
BH
What’s the source and meaning of not speaking dvarim Beteilim purposeless words?
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Does the Tosafot HaRosh cover all the Babylonian Talmud?
As how the title states, does the Tosafot HaRosh cover all of the tractates of the Talmud. If it doesn't then which tractates does it cover?
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Where can I find the indexes to Ein Yaakov online?
Ein Yaakov, a collection of aggadah from Shas, was originally published with a thematic index and an index according to the parshah, haftarah and megillos. They are described in this article
and this ...
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Methods of avoiding unintentionally wasting seed at night
Hi I heard there are methods of avoiding unintentionally wasting seed at night like sleeping on your side specifically that it has to be uncomfortable so your body doesn't sin in the night and then ...
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Why can women be lashed if Deuteronomy 25:3 speaks in masculine terms ("then thy brother should be dishonoured before thine eyes")?
According to Deuteronomy 25:3:
ג אַרְבָּעִים יַכֶּנּוּ, לֹא יֹסִיף: פֶּן-יֹסִיף לְהַכֹּתוֹ עַל-אֵלֶּה מַכָּה רַבָּה, וְנִקְלָה אָחִיךָ לְעֵינֶיךָ.
Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if ...
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Source for Story about Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi Collecting Teachings from All the Tanaim
Someone recently mentioned to me a story that in the days of the Tannaim most people learned from a single teacher and learned a single derekh or set of halakhot. Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi was unusual in ...
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Why did שמואל הנביא need permission to save his own life?
In יבמות ס״ה,ב׳ it brings the story of when Hashem told שמואל הנביא to go and anoint דויד, and שמואל asked Hashem what he should do in order not to arouse Shaul’s suspicion, thereby endangering his ...
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When did The Talmud first become available to the readers as a written document?
What was the probable earliest time, when some Jewish readers could get a hold of a document that contains any material that belong to the material that is found in Talmud Sanhedrin?
What was the ...
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Why does the Gemara reference R' Yaakov in an odd way?
In Sotah 46a, it says the following:
אָמַר לְהוּ הַהוּא מֵרַבָנָן ור׳ יַעֲקבֹ שְמֵיהּ לְדִידִי מְפָרְשָא לִי מִינֵּיהּ דְרַבִי יוֹחָנָן מְשִיכַת עוֹל לְרָחְבוֹ טֶפַח
One of the rabbis said to them, ...
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Why is Music not allowed at Jewish Funerals?
When my mother died several decades ago, a childhood friend and I performed her favorite Yiddish song, "Dona Dona," at her funeral. Being raised in non-observant families we were surprised ...
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What was the Halacha before the ruling of "יהרג ואל יעבר"?
The Sages counted the votes and concluded: If a person is told: Transgress this prohibition and you will not be killed, he may transgress, except for idol worship, forbidden sexual relations, and ...
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Is there a place in Gemarra or Chazal that describes or recommends using Memory Palaces?
I have read that a number of ancient philosophers, western and eastern, describe the use of Memory Palaces as an aid to memory.
Is there also a place in Chazal with such a recommendation or ...
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Passing a sentence before asking questions?
Moed Katan 27b:
when Rav Hamnuna once happened to come to a place called Darumata he heard the sound of a shofar announcing that a person had died in the town. When he saw some people doing work he ...
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Shechita only during the times of the Beis Hamikdash
Can someone point me to where in the Talmud there’s an opinion that shechita is only required during the times of the Beis Hamikdash?
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Is there a Talmudic source for this saying
I was asked if this saying, or a similar concept is found in the Talmud: "Not everything that one thinks, one should verbalize. Not everything that is said should be written. Not everything that ...
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Which Talmudic chapter has the most Halachic references by number?
Modern printings of the Talmud include Ein Mishpat glosses at the top outside corner of each page (for the most part). Which chapter reaches the highest number? I think I'd like to delve into that ...
- 479
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Why is a lulav from עיר הנדחת pasul because it lacks a shiur?
In לולב הגזול, the first Mishna says a לולב של עיר הנדחת is pasul. Rashi explains that this is because it "lacks" the minimal length of 4 tefachim, since it is supposed to be burned and is ...
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Did any of the gentile prophets receive a divine message to be directed to the Jews?
Was Bilaam a prophet to both the Jews and the gentiles ?
According to the site member "Baby Seal":
Bilaam's prophecy (Num 23, 24), contained much pertaining to Israel, and may have been his ...
- 428
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Stories of Eliyahu HaNavi in Gemara
Throughout the Gemara there are many stories in which Eliyahu HaNavi appears in one form or another and is in conversation with Chazal.
Have any commentators or scholars provided a systematic approach ...
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